Get Junk Food Out Of Schools, Say Military Leaders

A group of high-ranking retired military officials is calling on our country's public schools to remove junk food from their campuses.

Retired Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, says the nation's childhood obesity has become a national security issue:

“Seventy-five percent of all young Americans are unable to join the military and being overweight or obese is the number one medical reason why young adults cannot enlist...

"When schools sell candy and sugary drinks in cafeterias and vending machines, it works against national efforts to serve healthier school meals and parents’ efforts to help their children develop healthier lifelong eating habits.”

Myers is one of the more than 300 retired generals and admirals who make up the group Mission: Readiness. A new report released by the non-profit group finds public schools in the United States sell 400 billion calories worth of junk food to students each year.

Mission: Readiness has signed a letter to Congress, urging members to back efforts by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s to update the standards of food sold in vending machines and in cafeterias on school campuses.

Please stay on topic and be as concise as possible. Leaving a comment means you agree to our Community Discussion Rules. We like civilized discourse. We don't like spam, lying, profanity, harassment or personal attacks.